Across-disciplinary variations in the Writing of EFL Undergraduates A Systemic Functional Perspective

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3566_L31243

Authors: Bader Kurdali

Abstract: This study investigates the writing of EFL university students at the English department of a major university in Syria. Using Systemic Functional Linguistics as an analytical framework, the study applies Thematic analysis to students’ exam essays across two disciplines- language and literature- with the aim of exploring the differences in the language choices that students make in each discipline in meeting the relevant disciplinary requirements. The findings indicate an influential role that the interpersonal meaning plays in deciding these differences. The study ends with discussing a number of pedagogical implications such as benefiting from a genre-based approach to teaching writing.

Keywords: component; Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG); Theme analysis; genre-based approach;Non-Native Students( NNS)